Defense Undersecretary and PVAO Administrator Ernesto Carolina with the Baguio City officials led by Acting Mayor Faustino Olowan recognize the heroism of the World War II heroes during the 74th National Victory Day celebration at the Veterans Park in Baguio City on Tuesday, September 3. (RMC- PIA CAR)

TESDA at 25. TESDA - CAR Regional Director Manuel Wong and DTI Baguio - Benguet Director Freda Gawisan leads other partners from DOLE and Baguio PESO, in a Kapihan media forum, to promote the scheduled activities for TESDA's 25th Anniversary that will be highlighted by the

World class skilled Workers. PEZA Baguio deputy Zone Administrator Allan Datahan, in his keynote message at the TESDA - CAR 25 years anniversary awards and recognition program, affirms a continuing partnership with TESDA, not only in bringing work opportunity for Tech - Voc graduates inside the special economic zone but also in skills training to ensure that Filipino workforce will be globally competitive and responsive to the manpower needs of industries/investors. (Lito Dar/PIA CAR)

TESDA@25. Bartending students from the Baguio City School of Arts and Trade gives a demonstration on wine mixing during the TESDA - CAR led Kapihan media forum for the promotion of the scheduled activities for TESDA's 25th Anniversary that will be highlighted by the

Smoke Free Baguio. City Health Officials with partners and community stakeholders strengthens convergence for the attainment of the objectives of Baguio's Comprehensive Tobacco Control Ordinance through the first Smoke Free Baguio Convention at Venus Parkview Hotel, Tuesday. (Lito Dar/PIA CAR)

MAKATI CITY, Aug. 28 (PIA) -- In line with the local government's thrust to keep the city rabies-free, the City Veterinary Services Office (VSO) had given free vaccination to nearly 24,000 household pets from 21 barangays and rescued over 1,000 stray animals in the first six months of the year.

In its mid-year report, the VSO also reported 913 pets micro-chipped for free, bringing up the total number of micro-chipped pets to 5,909 since the landmark project was launched in October 2017.

For her part, Makati Mayor Abby Binay called on residents to be responsible pet owners and have their pets immunized and micro-chipped for free by VSO teams who visit their barangays on scheduled dates.

“We ask Makatizens to cooperate with our VSO teams conducting house-to-house visits to give free anti-rabies shots and microchip household pets. Rabies is deadly, and it is up to you to protect your families and communities against it,” Mayor Binay said.

Makati was the first local government unit in Southeast Asia to implement citywide pet microchipping in October 2017, a little over a year after Mayor Abby took office.

The microchip has a 15-digit code readable with a microchip scanner. When the code is entered into the database, it reveals the owner’s name as well as the pet’s vaccination records. Aside from facilitating the identification of pets and their owners, the program helps owners and bite victims avoid spending for redundant or unnecessary rabies vaccination.

VSO chief Dr. Ma. Katherina Mangahas said her office will conduct a Rabies Awareness Campaign in all public schools in the city this month. Before year-end, it will also hold a livelihood training on pet grooming to provide an affordable pet grooming option for pet owners, and a source of additional income for residents.

The VSO will also hold a community assembly in various barangays to promote Responsible Pet Ownership among residents, she added.

Mangahas reported that from January 1 to June 30, 2019, the VSO had vaccinated 23,720 pets from 21 barangays in the city and provided free spay and castration services to 147 pets under its Animal Health Program.

In the same period, 1,103 stray animals were rescued from city streets. Under the Stray Animal Management Program, rescued animals were temporarily sheltered at the city pound at Malugay St., Brgy. San Antonio.

Citizens who are interested to adopt rescued animals must submit a Good Moral Certificate, original and photocopy of the Income Tax Return (ITR) of the applicant, picture of the cage or shelter of the desired pet, picture of the applicant's residence, photocopy of two valid government IDs, a recent passport-size ID picture, and a notarized adoption form to the city pound. After validating the submitted requirements, the city pound will conduct an inspection at the residence of the applicant. Once approved, the applicant can take home the chosen pet.

Unredeemed animals whose health condition and behavior poses a threat to other animals are euthanized and sanitarily disposed through cremation at the city-owned pet crematorium. The facility was completed in August 2018 and became fully operational starting January this year.

Meanwhile, meats for sale within Makati have also been guaranteed safe and fresh by the Meat Inspection Division of the VSO. Under its Meat Regulation and Control Program, the division has monitored 1,179 meat establishments that sell fresh, frozen, and processed meats in groceries and public markets. (PIA InfoComm)

MAASIN CITY, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- More than 3,000 crown-of-thorns (COTs), specie of starfish, were seen in the waters of Malitbog town alone according to Aileen Estrera, member of the province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan, citing a recent survey conducted by the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU).

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- The institutions and individuals who displayed excellence in the performance and delivery of services for the Surigaonons received an award during the 30th Rotary Outstanding Surigaonon Awards (ROSA) ceremony held here recently.

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Sept. 6 (PIA) -- Civil Service Commission (CSC) OIC-Regional Director Rosalinda Tanalaga-Oliva highlighted the significant changes in the Philippine Civil Service over the past century.

BAGUIO CITY, Sept. 12 (PIA) - - Ranking officials reiterated the government’s call for the active participation of all sectors of society in ensuring good governance, accountability and transparency programs and policies in bringing inclusive growth and progress to the country and to the people.

BAGUIO CITY, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- Two young professionals from this city are among the 27 youth leaders from across the country selected as Philippine Ambassadors of Goodwill for the 46th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP).

BAGUIO CITY, Sept. 13 (PIA) - - Accounting of water resources in the Cordillera Administrative Region(CAR) is set into motion with the Philippine Statistics Authority regional office (PSA) convening a joint meeting – workshop of the Task Force Water Resource Accounting and the Technical Working Group on Environment Statistics .

Benguet

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Sept. 12(PIA) -- The Department of Education – Cordillera has directed all public and private schools in the region to conduct activities to commemorate the 1986 Mount Data “Sipat” or Peace Accord every September 13.

ITOGON, Benguet, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- The municipal government of Itogon will conduct rituals to commemorate the first year anniversary of the tragic landslide that hit the province of Benguet and this town at the height of typhoon Ompong last year.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Sept. 13 (PIA) - - The Provincial Rabies Control Consultative Committee gathered various stakeholders for a consultative meeting to bolster programs and activities for the prevention, control and the ultimate eradication of rabies in the province.

Mt. Province

BONTOC, Mountain Province, Aug. 31(PIA) -- Sangguniang Kabataan(SK) members in the province celebrated the Linggo ng Kabataan with various activities actively participated by out-of-school youth, in-school youth and working youth of the different municipalities in the province.

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The House of Representatives approved on first reading a proposed bill seeking for the termination of the collection of toll fees along the portion of the Benguet road, popularly known as Kennon road, from Klondykes Spring to Camp 6, repealing for the purpose Executive Order No. 34, series of 1954 as amended.

BONTOC, Mountain Province, Aug. 6(PIA) -- To raise community awareness and to inculcate health and nutrition habits for children at an early age for healthy living, the provincial government conducted Healthy Mother and Child and cooking contests in celebration of this year’s Nutrition Month.

BONTOC, Mountain Province, July 22 (PIA) -- The Provincial Livelihood Program (PLP) of the Provincial Government here continues to provide livelihood assistance to qualified individuals in the province.

LAGAWE, Ifugao, Aug. 15 (PIA) - - In line with the goal to eliminate human rabies by the year 2020, the support of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) as frontline workers in the communities is being tapped.